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PHOTOS: Protesters Call For Removal Of Silent Sam Statue At UNC

WUNC | By Elizabeth Baier

Published August 23, 2017 at 9:36 AM EDT

Police surround a Confederate monument during a protest to remove the statue at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017.

Hundreds of people rallied Tuesday night at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill campus in opposition of a Confederate statue known as Silent Sam.

Protesters surrounded the bronze monument and later blocked traffic. They were heard chanting "Tear it down" and "Hey hey, ho ho. This racist statue's got to go," as police in riot gear protected the statue.

The rally came a week after protesters tore down a bronze Confederate statue in front of a government building in Durham. Days later, Duke University chose to remove a limestone statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from its chapel.

View a gallery of photos from the evening:

University police stand watch inside a barricade around the Silent Sam Statue at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the statue on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Silent Sam monument on UNC Chapel Hill's Campus — The Silent Sam monument stands prominently on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

A protester against the Silent Sam monument stands near a barricade around the statue at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Cheyenne Wiley (center), a supporter of the Silent Sam monument, argues with protesters over whether or not the monument to the Confederate cause should be removed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Protestors — Cheyenne Wiley (center), a supporter of the Silent Sam monument, argues with protesters over whether or not the monument to the Confederate cause should be removed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the statue.

A lone supporter of the Silent Sam monument debates with multiple protestors over whether the statue should be removed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended — A lone supporter of the Silent Sam monument debates with multiple protesters over whether the statue should be removed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Protestors raise their fists in salute during chants of “Black Power”, at a demonstration at the Silent Sam monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on — Protesters raise their fists in salute during chants of “Black Power”, at a demonstration at the Silent Sam monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

University of North Carolina alumni hold handmade signs at a rally in protest of the Silent Sam statue at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

A sign in support of the Silent Sam statue rests near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 as hundreds of protesters gathered in opposition of the statue.

Police arrest one person during the protests against the Silent Sam statue on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. — Police arrest a man during the protests against the Silent Sam statue on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Police inside the barricade around the Silent Sam monument watch protests for the statue’s removal at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22 — Police inside the barricade around the Silent Sam monument watch protests for the statue’s removal at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Demonstrators against the Silent Sam monument listen to fellow protestor’s testimonies and speeches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 2 — Demonstrators against the Silent Sam monument listen to fellow protester’s testimonies and speeches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Demonstrators hold aloft signs against the Silent Sam monument at a protest near the monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 201 — Demonstrators hold aloft signs against the Silent Sam monument at a protest near the monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

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News Confederate Monuments Silent Sam University of North Carolina

Elizabeth Baier

Elizabeth “Liz” Baier is an editor for WUNC, leading the station's K-12 education, environment, and race, class and communities coverage. She also coordinates the station's Youth Reporting Internships program.

See stories by Elizabeth Baier

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